The possibilities for 3D printing are immense and cut across various industries. However, certain sectors have been quicker to embrace its potential and here there are some clear trends in progress.
This article considers five industries that are actively experimenting with 3D printing technology and stand at the precipice of transformation. These forms are not just dipping their toes in the technological water, but instead they are driving the innovation in this space.
Going forwards 3D printing is set to become an integral part of the following operations. The assessment is outlined in a 3D Printing Report by the company Hubs (an on-demand digital manufacturing platform).
Food
With 3D printed food, the types of edibles that lend themselves most to bio-printing are pizzas, chocolates, and sweets. With the technology evolving to print meat substitutes and even lab-grown meat, a future where intensive animal farming becomes a thing of the past edges closer (an example of meat produced by these methods has been developed by ‘Steakholder’ foods) .
As an additional benefit, printed food could also be embedded with custom nutrient profiles to benefit medical patients or the elderly.
Fashion
Paris Fashion Week 2023 featured 3D printed shoes from Dior, Reebok, and Namesake. Fashion mavens like Julia Koerner, Anouk Wipprecht, and Bastian Müller are also exploring 3D printed textiles.
The advantages include custom designs, local production, and less material waste.
Motorsports
Noisy motor sports like F1, NASCAR, and MotoGP are shifting gears to leverage 3D printing for speedier production cycles and low-volume capacity. One area of research is with lightweight and aerodynamic cars, which are possible through printed prototypes and components.
As an example, one firm – Stratasys – has teamed up with F1’s McLaren, while Ducati rode out the 2022 MotoGP season with Roboze’s composite 3D printing support.
Healthcare
The sector has seen 3D printing move into point-of-care settings, opening doors for bespoke medical solutions, increased efficiency, and better patient outcomes.
With life sciences, bioprinting – the practice of creating human cells in a hydrogel – has the potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine and drug development testing. Big pharma is already taking notice, hoping to benefit from accelerated drug testing.
Aerospace
3D printing is linked to the aerospace industry in many ways. It is used in space to produce spare parts, in the production of satellites, to explore the possibility of printing lunar and Martian habitats. In fact, it’s giving a serious boost to startups like Relativity, speeding up rocket production with optimized design and the consolidation of parts. The company recently launched Terran 1, its very first rocket built entirely through 3D printing.
